Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio following a dispute over committee reassignments.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, names Akpabio, his Senior Legislative Aide Mfon Patrick, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.
The conflict began during a recent Senate committee reshuffle when Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned from her position. Her opposition to this change led to a confrontation with Akpabio, which escalated after a Facebook post titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” appeared online. The post allegedly suggested she viewed her legislative role as a platform for personal display rather than governance.
Through her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan argues the statements were defamatory and harmful to her reputation among colleagues and the public. She seeks N1 billion in general damages and N300 million for litigation costs.
The Kogi senator is also requesting a court injunction to prevent further defamatory statements from the defendants on any platform. The case highlights growing tensions between the senator and the Senate President, transforming what began as a committee assignment dispute into a significant legal battle.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
